Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-11-28

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

Monday, November 28 2016

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras: The human capital is Greece's comparative advantage

[02] PM Tsipras on Fidel Castro's death: Goodbye comandante; until the peoples' eternal victory

[03] PM Tsipras inaugurates prime minister's office in Thessaloniki

[04] The country is now ready to turn page, says EU Commissioner Moscovici

[05] EU Commissioner Moscovici: An agreement for the debt is not far

[06] I am not afraid of Erdogan's statements, says Alt. Defence Min Vitsas

[07] ND leader Mitsotakis tours the region of Epirus

[08] Ghost of extreme right populism looming , says europarliament VP Papadimoulis

[09] It is imperative the conditions in the hotspots to become better, Migration Minister Mouzalas says to ANA

[10] Tsakalotos to meet with Moscovici on Monday

[11] There is no early elections issue, says Interior Minister Skourletis to ANA

[12] FM Kotzias: We insist on full withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus

[13] Teleconference on open issues of second review at the Finance ministry

[14] 29 migrants and refugees rescued; two traffickers arrested

[15] Ships to remain docked on Dec.8

[16] Lefteris Petrounias: You must experience defeat if you want to reach success

[17] Weather Forecast

[18] Athens News Headlines at a glance Politics

[01] PM Tsipras: The human capital is Greece's comparative advantage

"We chose to form a special ministry for research and innovation" said Tsipras adding that "despite the fiscal difficulty we managed to increase the budget for research and innovation. It is now approximately 1pct of GDP.

[02] PM Tsipras on Fidel Castro's death: Goodbye comandante; until the peoples' eternal victory

On his personal facebook account Tsipras wrote: Fidel Castro was the guarantor of his people's dignity and independence and set the foundations for the regional cooperation in Latin America. The generation that leaves bequeaths us a huge historic, symbolic and political legacy which we are called to deal with in conditions extremely difficult after the failure of neoliberalism and the vision of socialism to still seek its new structure. So, as Fidel said, those who struggle today against the disasters that threaten the world should analyse and implement carefully each political decision. Goodbye comandante. Until the peoples' eternal victory!

[03] PM Tsipras inaugurates prime minister's office in Thessaloniki

"This is a difficult wager that goes through the upgrading of the infrastructures and the invigoration of the commercial and productive activity" he said and referred to the upgrading of government's diplomatic presence and activity in Thessaloniki.

Referring to the operation of the prime minister's office, Tsipras said that the aim is "the as quick as possible transfer procedure of the issues to the highest level of the state's and government's administration" underlining that "this wouldn't be necessary if the public administration's dysfunctions did not exist".

He said that he will visit the office in Thessaloniki twice every fortnight and whenever necessary and will call cabinet meetings with the participation of the local entities in order to solve whatever problem arises".

[04] The country is now ready to turn page, says EU Commissioner Moscovici

Moscovici who arrives on Monday in Athens said that "according to the conclusions of the first review and the good progress in the second review, I believe that now the conditions are suitable for the discussions that must be held in the next Eurogroup meeting" adding that

"May's agreement defines clearly the next steps, with three packages of measures (long-term, short-term and mid-term) that remain to be agreed. The further discussions on the debt will play a very important role in IMF's participation in the programmes as it was agreed in May".

Moscovici said it is 'absolutely feasible" the staff agreement to close in the following days. Based on this agreement the Greek authorities must implement those agreed and to rapidly proceed with the necessary next steps in order the second review to be completed "This, however, demands the total cooperation and participation of all the interested parts".

Referring to the thorny issue of the changes in the labour market, Moscovici noted that there is still work to be done adding that progress has been recorded.

[05] EU Commissioner Moscovici: An agreement for the debt is not far

Moscovici said that the negotiations on the second review are on the right direction adding that we are entering a new phase, the phase of success.

I am aware that the Greek people must continue their efforts, I have understood that but I believe the compensation will come through growth, trust and job positions. I believe an agreement for the debt is not far. We need IMF to be with us, he said.

[06] I am not afraid of Erdogan's statements, says Alt. Defence Min Vitsas

However, these statements call us to be alert" stated Alternate Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas in an interview with Saturday newspaper Agora.

"Turkey, at political level, is facing problems and has open many issues. It has problems on its east borders and has problems with its policy on the Cyprus issue, there is turbulence in its northern part and in its relations with EU. If the whole matter has to do with the negotiation with EU or with the superpowers I believe that diplomatically Turkey is on the wrong way.

[07] ND leader Mitsotakis tours the region of Epirus

The main opposition leader met early in the morning with the Metropolitan of Ioannina Maximos who called him "a promising person".

Later, Mitsotakis met with the governor and the mayors of Epirus who briefed him on the infrastructures and the growth prospects of the region.

On his part, Mitsotakis expressed the certainty that "the new government will be formed very soon, sooner than some believe and will be strong enough to get the country out of the crisis".

[08] Ghost of extreme right populism looming , says europarliament VP Papadimoulis

"The European Left holds the historic role to not allow phenomena as Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump to become hegemonic" he said adding that the "economic crisis is present worldwide and the slowdown of the world economy apparently creates a number of additional problems to the EU countries. After Britain's decision for Brexit now the US with the elections of Donald Trump send a resounding message"

Papadimoulis also claimed that "the new US leadership brings uncertainty to Europe because it strengthens the disastrous voices of the extreme right and the voices of those that seek the reconstitution of the national competitiveness. EU's duty is the immediate change of course.

The establishment of a new relation of trust between politics and the citizens, a fair and sustainable growth, the employment and the peace in the wider region are the points that the European elite should take crucial decisions in the next period"

The progressive forces, the Green parties and particularly the European Left have the historic role to intercept the extreme-right populism wave and to prevent phenomena as Trump and LePen to become hegemonic, said Papadimoulis in his article

"The election results in US either will be the omen of bad developments for the world or the alarm clock that will wake up Europe and an example to avoid for a new course towards a progressive and social direction" he said and concludes "the Left must rise to this historic challenge by organising the necessary reactions and alliances".

[09] It is imperative the conditions in the hotspots to become better, Migration Minister Mouzalas says to ANA

"Climate of consensus does not mean we won't do anything" clarified Mouzalas adding that "the government has a programme to implement".

Mouzalas referred to 'black propaganda' on the islands and accused main opposition New Democracy that it has aligned with extreme-right elements and motivates the people.

On the death of two people in Moria hotspot, Mouzalas called it an accident that could happen anywhere but "it is imperative the conditions in the hotspots to become better" and made a plea to the islanders to stop listening to populistic solutions and to support the creation of better living conditions for the refugees".

Mouzalas said to ANA that in the next period that hosting centers will be reduced to half with the parallel reduction of the population that lives in them.

The minister expressed his concern over the possibility EU-Turkey agreement to collapse and described the government's three battles at diplomatic level: on the transfer of the refugees from the islands to the mainland, the change in the Dublin Treaty and the request for the establishment of a single European mechanism for the return of the migrants to their country of origin.

On Belgium's decision to not renew the Belgian experts' tenure on the islands of the northern Aegean for security reasons, he asked the discussion to focus on EU's responsibilities which, as he said, does not meet its commitments.

[10] Tsakalotos to meet with Moscovici on Monday

[11] There is no early elections issue, says Interior Minister Skourletis to ANA

Skourletis referring to the second review of the Greek programme explained that the "government's intention is the current programme, the current measures that have been already voted, to be the last and the estimations that 2017 will be a year of growth to be justified. Moreover, to be a year of stabilisation of whatever successes may come in order to be able to say that we have formed the conditions that will disengage us from the austerity policies".

On IMF's participation in the Greek programme, he estimated that "it demands the adoption of a number of positions that will be against the country's interest and particularly against the interests of the world of work" he said and concluded "I believe that the discussion should continue with our European partners and without the IMF".

[12] FM Kotzias: We insist on full withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus

"The bottom line is the definition of the Cyprus problem which is the occupation of northern Cyprus by the Turkish troops" he noted adding that "unless some consider 'solution' the handover and mean the Turkish occupation troops to remain on the island. Let's say it clearly. They charge me because they do not dare to say clearly that they support the legalisation and remaining of the illegal occupation Turkish troops on the island".

He referred to the same forces that had sternly attacked him when he was appointed Foreign Minister "forces from abroad and from inside the country that do not want an independent multidimensional foreign policy", he said.

"What annoys them is that we can't support the position that Turkey can have guaranteed interventional rights in Cyprus or that Turkey can keep forever its troops on Cyprus". We insist that the troops must withdraw within a reasonable period and a clause to exist that will give a specific date of the final withdrawal.

Kotzias clarified that the Greek government was not involved in the five stages of the negotiation adding that he even refused to express his opinion to Cyprus' government. "I was attacked when we refused to go to Switzerland to discuss the territorial issue" he explained and certified Greek government's intention for a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in order to examine if there are "any bridges and possibilities for an agreement'.

Finally, asked on Erdogan's provocative stance, Kotzias said that the Turkish president "has his eyes fixed on the Middle East and want to reach the oil of Mosul and to have some rights in the area".

On Albania and its Prime Minister Edi Rama, Kotzias referred to the package of deliberations on the solution of the existing issues between Greece and Albania before the start of Albania's accession procedure to EU and expressed the hope the Albanians, in the next period, to meet more and better the conditions for their accession course. "Personally, I want Albania in EU as well as a more democratic Albania with European characteristics that will also be a good neighbour".

Asked on newly elected US President Donald Trump, Kotzias said that his election expressed objective and international trends and phenomena that exist and in EU . On the Greek positions he referred to his contacts with Trump's staff noting that "we will explain and struggle to keep the ears of Mr. Trump's government open".

Financial News

[13] Teleconference on open issues of second review at the Finance ministry

The discussion focuses on the open issues of the second review of the Greek programme ahead of the Euro Working Group on 28 December and 5 December's Eurogroup meeting.

General News

[14] 29 migrants and refugees rescued; two traffickers arrested

A pursuit followed and the two traffickers managed to reach the coast where all the passengers disembarked.

The two traffickers were arrested and the migrants were transferred to the port of Chios. The dinghy was confiscated.

[15] Ships to remain docked on Dec.8

Ships will remain docked in all Greek ports.

[16] Lefteris Petrounias: You must experience defeat if you want to reach success

"At this moment I am nothing, I start from point zero. I am not an Olympic champion, a world champion or even a European champion; I start from the beginning to meet again my targets. This is what keeps you high, to continue to fight and to make a repeat. If I win again the European championship I will not think that I have won already three, I will believe that I am back to the start, that's the way I think" he said.

At a question what is more difficult to deal with, the victory or the defeat he said "Each one has its own difficulty and gives its own lessons. I believe that you must experience the defeat if you want to reach success. Success is the most difficult part because you must continue to prove that you deserve to be there, to be an Olympic champion. When you participate in a competition all the eyes are fixed on you and in parallel my wish to continue to want to see my country's flag high, is a heavy burden for me. To remain high and continue to win titles is more difficult than to deal with the defeat. Defeat makes you sorry but you can only learn from it. If you are a strong person and you are a strong person if you are an athlete, you kneel, you fall and then you get up stronger.

[17] Weather Forecast

[18] Athens News Headlines at a glance

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: They are gambling with the 4rth memorandum and elections.

ETHNOS: We are ready to discuss the Greek debt, says Pierre Moscovici (EU Commissioner for Financial Affairs) to newspaper.

KATHIMERINI: Fears for new measures and general elections scenarios.

KYRIAKATIKI DIMOKRATIA: SYRIZA collapsing.

PRIN: Hasta siempre Comandante- the revolution's everlasting charm.

PROTO THEMA: The Turks are ready to send hundreds of refugees and migrants to Greece.

REAL NEWS: Someone should 'stop' him! Erdogan (Recep Tayyip, Turkish President) threatens and blackmails Europe.

RIZOSPASTIS: The people should not accept the new antipopular developments.

TO VIMA: Tsipras (Alexis, prime minister) held hostage.

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